Can you think of a ‘90s actress who has made a bigger impact than Jennifer Aniston? If you can, we’d love to know! The famous Hollywood star, who began her career on the popular sitcom
Friends
, has been wowing audiences on both TV and film for years while also setting fashion and beauty trends (who could forget the “Rachel” haircut craze?). Despite her widespread fame today, Aniston started as a drama student with big aspirations in New York City. In this article, we’ll explore some of Aniston’s early career highlights, from her first role on the
Ferris Bueller
TV series (yes, it existed!) to nearly missing out on the chance to play Rachel.
During the 1980s, Jennifer Aniston was already showing signs of star quality. She completed her studies in New York’s LaGuardia High School of Music & Performing Arts (also known as the “Fame” school) in 1987 and even posed for a portrait during that time. By the 1990s, she had landed a role in the television series adaptation of “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”.
Back in the day, Jennifer Aniston starred in the short-lived TV series Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Unfortunately, the show only lasted one season before getting axed. An old promotional photo of Aniston alongside her co-stars Charlie Schlatter, Brandon Douglas, and Ami Dolenz still exists as a reminder of her earlier acting gigs.
Back in 1990, Jennifer Aniston was spotted at Spago with fellow actor Charlie Schlatter, whom she briefly dated. Schlatter was her co-star in the film Ferris Bueller. Spago, the famous Beverly Hills restaurant owned by Wolfgang Puck, was a popular spot for celebrities. The two were photographed together during their date.
In the year 1990, Jennifer Aniston made appearances in a few TV shows and movies. Apart from her role in Ferris Bueller, she also acted in the TV film Camp Cucamonga and was seen in seven episodes of Molloy, a comedy series that featured Mayim Bialik as well. This was a significant year for the actress who would go on to become a household name in the entertainment industry.
Back in 1992, Jennifer Aniston landed her first-ever movie role in the horror-comedy fantasy flick, Leprechaun. However, during a recent interview with InStyle in 2021, the actress revealed that she was worried about how the film would impact her future acting career.
In 1993, our beloved actress had the opportunity to appear on an episode of the television series “Burke’s Law”. This show was broadcasted by CBS and it was a remarkable experience for her.
Aniston had a role in the 1994 sitcom called Muddling Through. Unfortunately, the show didn’t last long. Aniston played Madeline Drego, the daughter of Connie Drego, a character played by Stephanie Hodge. Connie is an ex-convict who comes back to her family.
In 1994, Jennifer Aniston had a breakthrough moment when she landed the role of Rachel Green in the beloved television series Friends. However, it almost didn’t happen as Aniston was also working on another show called Muddling Through which was set to be renewed for a few more episodes. The Friends producers started auditioning other actresses as a backup when they heard about this. Luckily for Aniston, Muddling Through was eventually cancelled, paving the way for her iconic portrayal of Rachel. In a recent interview with SiriusXM’s Gayle King in the House, Aniston revealed this near-miss and how it could have changed her career trajectory.
In 1994, Jennifer Aniston’s career skyrocketed when Friends first aired thanks to the amazing chemistry between her and the rest of the cast. She attended NBC’s press tour party in 1995, looking fabulous. Jennifer also made an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno that same year.
Back in 1995, the charming actress graced The Tonight Show with Jay Leno to promote her hit show Friends. Accompanying her was the legendary musical guest, James Ingram.
In 1995, Jennifer Aniston and her co-star from Friends, David Schwimmer, graced the Hollywood premiere of Before Sunrise. The movie was directed by Richard Linklater and featured Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy in lead roles. It was a popular romance drama of the mid-90s. Aniston and Schwimmer attended the event amidst their Friends’ fame. Aniston also attended the 21st Annual People’s Choice Awards in the same year.
Accompanied by her fellow co-stars from the popular television series “Friends”, Jennifer Aniston attended the 21st edition of the People’s Choice Awards in Universal City. The talented group was awarded the prestigious Favorite New Television Comedy Series title on that memorable night. A snapshot of this occasion was captured by renowned photographer Ron Galella, for Getty Images.
In 1996, the charming and talented Jennifer Aniston appeared in the film “Picture Perfect” alongside Kevin Bacon. While filming on location in New York City, the lovely actress was captured between scenes with her previous boyfriend, Tate Donovan. The photo perfectly showcases Aniston’s natural beauty and effortless style during that time.
In 1996, Jennifer Aniston attended the 53rd Annual Golden Globe Awards with her fellow Friends cast members. She looked stunning next to Lisa Kudrow on the red carpet. Although Friends was nominated for Best Musical/Comedy Series, it unfortunately did not win and lost to Cybill.
